Did you ever wonder what it would be like to have Bruce Lee teach you martial arts? Would he be willing to teach you? How would he train you? What strategies would he use?
We have an idea of Lee’s teaching method from the Paramount tv show Longstreet from 1971. Lee guest starred in the first episode, “The Way of the Intercepting Fist” and played a martial artist named Li Tsung who taught Mike Longstreet to defend himself. The episode was written by Stirling Silliphant who was a student of Bruce Lee. The dialogue used in the episode was based on conversations between Lee and Silliphant during their training sessions.
I have included video clips from the show of Lee’s training methods and have provided the transcripts of the dialogue. Following along is like watching a real training session.
Asking Bruce Lee to teach martial Arts
Lee was not willing to teach just anyone. He would ask questions to see if the potential student was open minded enough to learn. You would have to put aside what you previously knew which Lee called “emptying the cup.” If he agreed to teach you he would not be a traditional teacher but more of a guide of self discovery. His teaching would be individualized to the student and focus on specific techniques based on the strengths and weakness of that student.
Scene 1 from “The Way of the Intercepting Fist.”
Mike Longstreet wants to learn to fight and is talking with his assistant Nikki Bell. Longstreet then asks Li Tsung (Bruce Lee) to teach him to fight.
Longstreet: “Did Li Tsung say why he wouldn’t teach me?”
Nikki Bell: “The usefulness of its cup is in its emptiness. I’m quoting him.”
Longstreet: “I think it sounds like something you would say Nikki.”
Longstreet: “Li I want you to teach me what you did the other night.”
Li: “I already told Mrs. Bell I can’t.”
Longstreet: “I’m willing to empty my cup in order to taste your tea.”
Li: “Your open mindedness is cool, but it doesn’t change anything. I don’t believe in systems Mr. Longstreet. Nor in method and without system, without method what’s to teach?”
Longstreet: “Yea but you had to learn. You weren’t born knowing how to take apart three men in a matter of seconds.”
Li: “True, but I found the cause of my ignorance.”
Longstreet: “Well help me find mine.”
Explaining his “style” of martial arts
Lee’s fighting philosophy was called Jeet Kune Do which means to intercept an opponent’s attack. This could be done by the leg, fist, or elbow. The student should use whichever body part was closest and most direct. Quick recognition and reaction to an opponent’s attack was very important. Lee practiced using kick shields with a partner and included side kicks and jabs as part of his training.
Scene 2 from “The Way of the Intercepting Fist.”
Li demonstrates kicking into a padded shield being held up by Longstreet. Li kicks Longstreet so hard that it sends Longstreet back several feet and to the ground. Duke Paige is a friend of Longstreet and watched the kick.
Duke: “Fantastic. Ah what is this ah, what is thing you do?”
Li: “In Cantonese, Jeet Kune Do. The way of the intercepting fist.”
Duke: “Intercepting fist, huh.”
Li: “Or foot, come on touch me. Anywhere you can.”
Duke tries to punch Li, but Li responds by doing a side kick.
Li: “You see? To reach me you must move to me. Your attack offers me an opportunity to intercept you. In this case I’m using my longest weapon, my side kick! Against the nearest target, your kneecap. This can be compared to your left jab in boxing except it’s much more damaging.”
Duke: “I see. Well speaking of a left jab.”
Duke tries to surprise Li by punching him. Li responds by quickly punching Duke.
Li: “Oh, this time I intercept your emotional tenseness. You see from your thought to your fist how much time was lost. “
Duke: “Not much.”
Mike: “Yea Li is going to teach me all this.”
Li: “I can not teach you. Only help you to explore yourself, nothing more.”
Longstreet: “All right, all right, let’s explore more of those kicks.”
Teaching movement and kicking
Footwork under Jeet Kune Do was also important. Lee taught his students to move in a relaxed way. It was important to notice the rhythm of the opponent and react to their movements. Students should be aware of their surroundings. He encouraged students to get into a flow and react without thinking. Students should respond to an opponent without thinking using a combination of moves.
Scene 3 from “The Way of the Intercepting Fist.”
Li is attempting to show Longstreet how to move based on listening to a song.
Li: “No, no, no. It’s too rigid. Listen to the beat and listen to my movement.”
Li demonstrates kicks. Longstreet tries to copy him.
Li: “Now relate to me now. Move, no, no, no. Don’t just move for the sake of moving. Relate to me, relationship, relationship. Be aware, aware. Adjust, now open it up a little bit. Feel the wind blowing. Bird, do you hear the bird chirping.”
Longstreet: “Yes.”
Longstreet moves backward as Li approaches him.
Li: “Very good. Now let it flow. Open it up. Kick the bird.”
Longstreet kicks.
Li: “Yes, now how did it feel to you?”
Longstreet: “Like, I didn’t kick, it kicked.”
Li: “Terrific, now once more.”
Longstreet: “Now wait a minute, I have to think.”
Li: “If you have to think than you still don’t understand.”
Longstreet: “Wait I did it, didn’t I?”
Li: “Do you think a fight is one blow, one kick! Until you can put combinations together without even thinking. Until you can learn how to keep moving and to endure, hire a bodyguard or lead a less aggressive life. Don’t charge in blindly. You got to listen.”
Li claps hands together.
Li: “Listen. Now you don’t hear the bird now do you?”
Longstreet: “No.”
Li: “Ha, if you don’t hear the bird than you can not hear your opponent.”
Li starts to move around.
Li: “Now where am I?”
Longstreet: “There.”
Mike Longstreet points to the wrong spot.
Li: “No! Your thoughts are wrong.”
Longstreet: “Look, I’m trying to learn how to fight not how to think.”
Li: “May it be well with you Mike.”
Longstreet: “What. Wait a minute, what are you doing? Are you quitting?”
Teaching the Finger Jab and Eye Flick
Lee taught his students how to use eye flicks and jabs to disable or distract the opponent. This could be done in combination with a kick. Just like an animal, you should not be afraid to incapacitate your opponent in order to survive.
Scene 4 from “The Way of the Intercepting Fist.”
Li: “Where are my eyes? Point to them.”
Longstreet feels Li’s face.
Li: “Thrust at them.”
Longstreet: “What?”
Li: “Finger jab.”
Longstreet: “No.”
Li: “Don’t worry I have covered them.”
Longstreet: “I can’t do it.”
Li: “Because of your blindness?”
Longstreet: “I just can’t do it.”
Li: “Listen the finger jab is a most effective attack.”
Longstreet: “Well let’s just forget that attack, shall we?”
Li: “The man that beat you up that night, would he hesitate to gouge out your eyes?”
Longstreet: “Well that’s his problem.”
Li: “A bird would, a cat would without thinking.”
Longstreet: “Well I’m not a bird and I’m not a cat and I do think.”
Li: “Well that is your problem. All right forget about the eye jab. Now you can sense where my eyes are, right?”
Li takes hold of Longstreet’s arm and starts to shake it.
Li: “Relax. Relax.”
Li moves Longstreet’s arm towards Li’s face.
Li: “Now that’s the eye flick. Sidekick”
Li slaps Longstreet’s leg. Longstreet doesn’t respond.
Li: “All right listen to me. Listen to my movement, ok?”
Li does a side kick and eye flick in combination.
Li: “Keep moving. Now the two motions are part of one motion. Now you try.”
Longstreet attempts to do a sidekick and eye flick.
Li: “Faster.”
Longstreet tries again.
Li: “A little bit smoother.”
Longstreet tries a third time.
Li: “Well your head and body are still not one.”
Longstreet: “Well when will they get together!”
Li: “Once more!”
Teaching fighting on the ground.
Lee taught that you must use any weapon at your disposal. If you are in a headlock on the ground you may need to bite your opponent if you have no other option. He used the analogy of being like water to adapt to the situation. You can’t have a series of prearranged moves in an altercation but must be ready to adapt as needed. Students should be willing to give everything in a fight even if it means putting your life on the line, “To learn to die is to be liberated from it.”
Scene 5 from “The Way of the Intercepting Fist.”
Li has Longstreet in a headlock and lying on the ground.
Li: “What is your instinct?”
Longstreet: “To pray.”
Li: “In this position, your arms are useless.”
Longstreet: “Yea.”
Li: “To kick or stomp me.”
Longstreet: “No.”
Li: “Then if you wish to survive what do you do?”
Longstreet: “I don’t know.”
Li: “Bite.”
Longstreet: “Bite!?”
Li: “Are we not animals?”
Li lets go of Longstreet’s neck.
Li: “Are you all right?”
Longstreet: “I can’t find much evidence to the contrary Li. Bite, huh.”
Li: “Biting is efficient in closed quarter. Don’t make a plan of biting. That is a very good way to lose your teeth.”
Longstreet: “So much to remember.”
Li: “If you try to remember, you will lose.”
Li: “Empty your mind. Be formless, shapeless, like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. Put it into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or creep or drip or crash. Be water my friend.”
Longstreet: “Huh, why don’t I stand in front of Bull and recite that to him. Maybe he will faint or drown.”
Li: “When is it.”
Li is referring to an upcoming fight.
Longstreet: “Tomorrow.”
Li: “You are not ready.”
Longstreet: “I know.”
Li: “Like everyone else you want to learn the way to win, but never to accept the way to lose. To accept defeat. To learn to die is to be liberated from it. So when tomorrow comes, you must free your ambitious mind and learn the art of dying. May it be well with you Mike.”
Conclusion
From this episode of Longstreet we can get an idea of Bruce Lee’s fighting style. Lee would not train just anyone but would require the student to have an open mind. His teaching would be tailored to each student based on their needs. His philosophy of martial arts was called Jeet Kune Do which means to intercept an attack in the most direct way. Quick reaction time was very important. Students should respond without thinking and be willing to incapacitate an attacker using any available tool to survive.
Resources:
Longstreet, The Way of the Intercepting Fist, Season 1, Episode 1, aired September 16, played Li Tsung. Bruce Lee teaches the blind Mike Longstreet to defend himself. The first of four episodes on Longstreet. Bruce Lee received much positive attention and made important statements about his martial arts philosophy. 48m (IMDB).
Longstreet The Complete Series, Amazon.com, ASIN: B077PJ34W6. Unavailable as of this publication. You may be able to find this on a second hand site such as eBay.
Longstreet, The Series, Palmer, Scott, Author, Cypress Hills Press publisher, 2020. Reference book about the television series Longstreet which starred James Franciscus as a blind insurance investigator. Bruce Lee guest starred in four episodes.
Longstreet Clips owned by Paramount Television, 1971.
AI Narration provided by elevenlabs.io. Bruce Lee quotes read by AI voice over.
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